Valkyrie Hunter

I hurried down the deserted street feeling guilty. I had snuck out of Walla and Anhild‘s apartment early morning. I did leave them a note I didn’t want to put them in any more danger. I was wearing another set of Arva’s clothes I now looked like a blonde Goth in a black leather corset, black leather pants and the boots with the silver buckles. I didn’t even know you could get Goth Valkyrie. It was a better option than the skirt and top in Clan colours. Over the top of my ensemble was a long brown coat with a hood, which I wore up to hide my face. The only symbol that it was Clan were the maroon and yellow buttons that did up the coat. I kept glancing around even dressed as I was in Clan colours I’d stick out like a sore thumb. The streets were dead not a soul walked along them, there wasn’t even any road traffic. Everything was eerily silent. Occasionally I could hear the sound of engines I avoided those locations where I could hear them only the rebels were on the streets. I halted stepping off the street and into a dirty side alley smelling strong of shit and urine and pulled the map I’d drawn from my pocket. Walla’s terminal had been useful in planning my route. I had to admit a hand drawn map was not as useful as a holo but it was all I had. I couldn’t risk a comms bracelet being traced back to Walla and Anhild. What I did take and it only made my guilt at leaving them stronger was the Seven Double ‘M’ I had concealed in my pocket. The sound of a vehicle moving slowly down the street brought me out of my musing. I ducked behind a pile of trash. It seemed even here that trash collection had been disregarded. I hoped beyond hope that these rebels hadn’t got any sensors. Then any attempt at hiding was totally futile. It also meant I’d have to shoot my way out. I had an advantage they didn’t, my Keeper blood had made me faster. That would be my last resort not because I was taking a Keeper’s stance. I didn’t want to alert the rebel forces, which an armed confrontation would do. I held my breath as the ground car passed. Somehow they had modified it by removing the roof and cramming as many in as they could. The ground car was battered and dented and crawled along at a snail’s pace. I held my breath until it passed. Then continued to hide until the sound of the engine was distant.

Cautiously I stepped out the alley pistol in hand ready to fire if that was the only option. I looked up the street and down the street before committing myself. It was deserted but I was acutely conscious of the windows in the buildings crowding high above the street. Anyone could see me there and there was a total lack of cover. Deciding haste was better that caution I hurried away putting as much distance as I could from this place. A few streets later I halted and stepped into a side alley to consult my map. To be honest it was a mess, I had done it in haste worried about exposing Anhild and Walla to danger. The truth went deeper than that I had to get away fearful that Walla in her curiosity would find out about my Keeper DNA. The fewer that knew about that the better. I froze hearing the sound of voices. Quickly I glanced around trying to find the best place to hide. The far end of the alley was blocked by a wall luckily for me I saw several overfull dumpsters. I hid behind one the furthest I could get from the street. Alert and listening I heard the tromp of heavy boots climbing past the bags of trash.

“Will you hurry up?” a voice called out it was further away than the boot sounds.

“Mother!” a second voice said. It was closer much closer.

I readied my pistol just in case I had to fight my way out. I heard the sound of something hitting the ground and what I could swear blind to the sound of something unbuckling. Slowly it dawned on me what was actually happening. I think it was the sigh of relief that clued me in. I hid and listened to the sound of boots retreating back down the alleyway. I waited a while longer until I was sure that they were truly gone. Hesitantly I left my hiding place and tread my way back to the entrance to the alley carefully avoiding the pool of urine on the ground. Little wonder these alleys smelled bad if it they were getting used as latrines. The thought disgusted me these weren’t Valkyrie no true Valkyrie would do that. When I was training with Thirika she always ensured I cleaned after me. Her attitude was more like the Valkyrie I had come to understand if my guess wasn’t far off. These were the castoffs from other Clans little wonder their Clan Mothers had got rid of them. That was my opinion and I was sticking to it. I edged closer to the entrance and peered round the corner looking left and right. The street was deserted I consulted my map and hurried in the direct I hope was the correct one.

A few streets later I came to the conclusion I’d taken the wrong turn. I was supposed to be heading north. From what little I had gleamed from my time training I knew I was following the sun unknowingly keeping it to my right. What I now realised was that I’d hadn’t taken in the movement of the sun. Like the Earth it followed an elliptical course around the world and had the same mix of seasons I’d been accustomed to on Earth. I looked up at the unfamiliar buildings all around me. Their blank featureless windows accusing me of my stupidity.

“Idiot!” I cussed myself.

“Psst?”

I turned abruptly seeing a Valkyrie gesticulating to me from the doorway of what appeared to be an apartment block. “Get out of the street fool!” The harsh tone of the voice echoed the sharp signals she was sending me.

“I hurried to towards her my hand on the pistol in my pocket.

As I neared she said. “Get inside quickly.”

I took a chance and hurried into the building. The Valkyrie that had gestured was typical of her race. With her long blonde hair tied into a loose bunch. She was wearing what seemed to be a robe in Clan colours.

“Stupid Mato!” she swore as she pulled me inside and slid the door closed behind us. “What do you think your were doing. It’s death out there?”

“I go my own way?” I replied shortly.

She stepped back staring at me hard I still had my hood on. “Who are you?” She sounded shocked. I pulled off my hood she jumped back shock on her face. “What are you?”

“Vaihdokas,” I said putting my hood back on. I hadn’t meant to be snappish but I was angry more with my mistake that I was with this frightened Valkyrie.

“Leave!” she stammered. “You’ll kill us all.”

“Right!” I replied. “And you better stay silent about me.” I noted she hadn’t commented on my accent.

I slipped out of the door and took off at a run trying to put as much distance between me the Valkyrie. There was a good chance she’d betray me. I wasn’t sure how I knew that. Once I gauged I was far enough I slowed to a more acceptable pace. I was now throughly lost. First chance I got I threw away my now useless map. I just had to hope I’d find a way out of this maze of a city. For some reason the builders of this city had placed it on a grid pattern but had neglected to name or number the streets. So I was lost in an unfamiliar city held by rebels. The sound of engines had me darting down a side alley and bit cleaner then the last one I’d hid in. Like the last alley a wall blocked the far end but to my luck there were a number of supports wide enough for me to hide behind. I ducked behind one as the sound of engines grew loud then stopped directly outside my alley.

“Search the area she’s bound to be somewhere around here?”

I stiffened my breath catching I’d been betrayed. Whether intentionally or out of fear I was trapped.

“How sure are we about that?” another voice asked.

The first voice snorted. “Some mato cheapening their honour for credits. We’ll find her here.”

I tensed it looked as if would have to try to fight my way out. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my pistol. The little Seven Double ‘M’ was all I had to do the job. Speed and what I hoped was surprise on my side. Before I had a chance to put my plan into action. I heard the sound of something metallic thudding to the ground next to me. In the fraction of a second it took me to move my whole world flashed white. Blindly I fired all strength draining from me. Blackness filled the white.